POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. — An extensive beach replenishment initiative valued at $73.5 million is set to commence along the Jersey Shore next month.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on Friday that the project, aimed at widening beaches in Ocean County, is scheduled to start in January.
This undertaking involves the transportation of approximately 2.1 million cubic yards of sand to restore the coastline between Manasquan Inlet and Seaside Park, which equals between 150,000 and 210,000 dump truck loads of sand.
The sand required for this project will be sourced from three designated offshore “borrow” locations and will be transferred to the beaches via pumping.
Initially, work will begin in January at Seaside Heights, and then it will progress to the neighboring Seaside Park throughout February.
During this phase, an estimated 241,000 cubic yards of sand will be deposited on the shore.
The southern section of Toms River is scheduled for replenishment work in February and March, where 426,000 cubic yards of sand are anticipated to be added.
Lavallette will receive 184,000 cubic yards of sand in March as part of the project.
The communities of Bay Head and Point Pleasant Beach are slated to begin replenishment in the spring, contingent on weather conditions and the pace at which preceding work is accomplished, collectively receiving 495,000 cubic yards.
Mantoloking, a community that experienced significant damage during Superstorm Sandy, will have 392,000 cubic yards of sand delivered in the spring, while the nearby Brick will benefit from 227,000 cubic yards around early summer.
The northern section of Toms River is also included in the plan and is expected to receive 135,000 cubic yards of sand during the summer months.
In October, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract for the execution of this project to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., based in Houston.
Additional improvements will include the restoration of dunes, beach access paths, and sand fencing, along with the planting of dune grass in various regions.
